Rail-antispreader.



E. D. CLARK.

RAIL ANTI$PREADER,

APPLICATION IILED D110. 27, 1910.

11,007,066. Patented Oct. 31 1911. I

EDWARD D. CLARK, OF EVERGREEN, TEXAS.

RAIL-ANTISPREADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911..

Application filed December 27, 1910. Serial No. 599,317.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evergreen, in the county of San Jacinto and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Anti Spreaders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rail anti-spreaders and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device whereby the rails are securely retained in their proper positions upon the ties and prevented from accidentally spreading or separating in the movement of trains over the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for compensating for the expansion and contraction of the rails where by the same may at all times be rigidly held in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above specified character which is strong and durable in construction and may be manufactured at an extremely low cost.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a track showing my improved rail anti-spreading device in operative position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one end of the device and one of the rails; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the adjustable rail engaging plates.

Referring in detail to the drawing R designates the railroad rails which are mounted upon and secured to suitable ties (not Shown) in the usual manner. At intervals in the track intermediate of the ties my improved anti-rail spreading devices are adapted to be arranged. These devices each consist of a pair of heavy steel plates 5 which are overlapped and rigidly secured together at one of their ends by means of the bolts 6 upon which the clamping nuts 7 are threaded. The outer ends of these plates are curved or bent upwardly and inwardly upon themselves as indicated at 8 for engagement over the outer edges of the base flanges of the rails as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Upon the main body plates 5 of the device the adjustable rail engaging plates 9 are arranged. These plates engage for the greater portion of their length closely upon the body plates 5 and at one of their ends are upturned and provided with the flanges 10 for engagement over the inner edges of the rails R. The longitudinally disposed portion of the rail engaging plate is formed upon its upper surface with a pair of lugs 11. The upper surfaces of these lugs are beveled or inclined as indicated at 12 and they are also each longitudinally slotted as at 13. These slots 13 extend entirely through the plates 9 and receive the bolts 14: which are disposed through openings in the body plate 5. The upper ends of the bolts 14 are threaded for engagement in the nuts 15 arranged upon the lugs 11, said nuts having inclined faces 16 engaging upon the inclined faces 12 of said lugs. The bolts are adapted to be inserted from beneath the plate 5 and threaded through the nuts 15.

In placing the device in position upon the rails, the ends 8 of the body plates are first engaged over the outer edge portions of the base flanges of the rails and the inner ends of said plates are overlapped and rig idly secured together by means of the bolts and nuts 6 and 7 respectively. The plates 9 are then arranged upon the body plate and the bolts 14 extended through the openings in the body plates and through the slots 13. The flanged ends 10 of the plates 9 are then moved longitudinally on the body plates into engagement over the inner longitudinal edges of the base flanges of the rails. The nuts 15 are now screwed down upon the bolts 14: into clamping engagement with the inclined surfaces 12 of the lugs 11 whereby the plates 9 are securely clamped upon the rails. In this manner the rails are securely held in position on the ties and pre vented from spreading.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my improved anti-rail spreading device will be readily understood. The same is extremely simple, may be easily and quickly installed and is extremely efficient and durable in practical use. Owing to the few parts employed in its construction it will further be obvious that the device can be manufactured at a very low cost while at the same time it will effectually serve the purpose for which it is designed.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the various parts, itwill be obvious that the device is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A device of the character described comprising a pair of body plates rigidly secured together at one of their ends, the other ends of said plates being bent upon themselves and adapted to engage over the outer edges of the base flanges of a pair of rails, a rail engaging plate longitudinally movable upon each of said body plates for ing beveled, said plates and lugs having 1011- gitudinal slots therein, bolts extending through the body plates and through said slots, and nuts threaded to receive said bolts having inclined faces for engagement upon the inclined surfaces of said lugs to 30 yieldingly hold said movable plate against longitudinal movement and in clamping engagement upon the rail flange.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDVARD D. CLARK.

Witnesses LILLIE VARREN, ROBERT \VARREN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

